Scraping device for containers



July 26, 1938. D. REID 2,124,929

SCRAPING DEVICE FOR'CONTAINERS' Original Filed Aug. 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l (Ittomeg July 26, 1938. o. REID SCRAPING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 30, 1935 Q Doha/a Patented July 26, 1938 SCRAPING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Donald Reid, Kingston, Jamaica, British West Indi Application August so, 1935, sent: No. 38,600 Renewed June 3, 1938 2 Claims.

This invention relates to cans and like containers, and it has particular reference to the provision of means associated with such containers to prevent undue loss of the contents during removal.

It is customary to dispense certain liquids directly from their original containers without resorting to transfer to other receptacles. This custom is followed particularly in the use of heavy bodied liquid comestibles, such as syrup and condensed milk, and also in the case of paints, glues, etc. Such procedure, however, has been unsatisfactory, since the act of dispensing, whether by spoon or brush, is invariably attended by more or less dripping of the liquid over the edges of the container.

The present invention provides means to eliminate this loss, and, in general, such means comprise a collector or scraper member, connected to the can, which may be utilized to wipe ofi the spoon or, brush and return the drippings or overflow directly to the container.

Typical embodiments of the principles of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a container in an unopened state, the upper end of which is shown in section to illustrate the assembly of the cover structure with the collector;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an opened container showing the collector positioned for operation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a collector of the adaptor type forming a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, showing the adaptor of Fig. 3

applied to a can and covered with a cap;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a top view of a paint can with the cover removed to disclose the scraper structure;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partially in section. of the paint can.

In the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the collector i0 is integrated with the structure of a can Ii. The collector is preterably angular in shape, having one leg i2 formed with a curved notch l3, and its remaining leg ll containing an opening i5 and terminating in a small exterior flange l6 which is bent upon itself.

The collector I0 is assembled with the can by engaging the flange l6 over the upper edge of the body thereof. A cover I1 is subsequently applied to this edge, and its flange 18 engages and secures the flange l6 preparatory to the soldering operation, wherein both cover and collector are permanently secured to the can body.

When the can is opened by the usual can open ing implement, the collector may be engaged by inserting the end of a spoon S in the opening it) to engage the lower portion of the leg ll, and then, with the edge of the cover opening as a pivot, the spoon may be utilized as a lever to bend the leg l2 to a vertical position above the level of the contents of the can.

In this position (Fig. 2) the collector ofiers little interference with the process of ladling out the liquid, and the notched leg l2 may be successfully used to clean the lower surface of the ladle or spoon of excess liquid, which will drip directly back into the can without waste or unsightliness.

In Figs. 3, 4, and 5 the collector is formed as an adaptor for removable assembly with a can, jar, or similar container. It is formed as a sheet metal rim stamping 20 having an annular flange 2i and a large central opening 22 intersected by a rib portion 23. Internally bent lugs 24 having curved extremities 25 project from the edge of the opening at spaced intervals. A' vertical leg 26 projects from one side of the rib portion 23 and it is formed with a curved notch 21.

The adaptor may be applied to an opened can 28 by frictionally engaging the flange 21 over the upper end of the can, whereupon the lugs 24, being somewhat resilient, engage the inner cut edge 29 of the can to provide a firm connection.

This device is utilized in the same manner as the previously described collector with the vertical leg 26 serving as a scraper for the ladle or spoon.

To protect the contents of the can during storage periods, a cover 30 is provided, and it is formed with a depending flange 3i, which may be engaged over the flange of the adaptor, and a raised protuberance 32 which clears the upstanding leg 26 thereof. Proper assembly alignment of these members is obtained by providing notches 33 on the cover flange and radial lugs 34 on the adaptor flange which are engageable therewith. This connection also serves to protect the leg 26 during removal of the cover, since it prevents a rotary method of disassembly.

The invention may also be incorporated in the usual form of paint can, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein a can 31 is provided with an annular rim member 38 which contains a circular groove 39 for receiving a sealing cover 40 having a corresponding circular flange ll. I propose to provide a chordal rib portion l2 across the perforation or opening of the rim 8|, preterably by forming it as an integral part 01 the rim stamping. It will also be observed that the inner periphery 43 of the rim is drawn below the level of the can structure. This permits clearance for a vertical scraper leg 44 which projects vertically from the rib portion 42 to a spaced distance from the overlying cover. The extremity of the leg 44 may be notched, as indicated by the numeral 45, in a similar manner to the leg of the previously described embodiment.

Upon removal of the cover 40, direct access is provided to the contents of the can through the rim opening, and the liquid contents may be removed by a brush, which advantageously may be drawn across the scraper leg 44 before active use, thereby permitting excess paint to drop directly back into the can.

It will be apparent that the structures herein disclosed may be subject to various modifications without departing from the inventive principle.

I claim:

1. In a container having an open top and a cover therefor, a scraper fixture disposed within the container and formed of a sheet metal strip bent into two angularly disposed legs, one of said legs having a free extremity secured to a portion of the container structure adjacent the open top thereof, said secured leg being disposed in substantial parallelism to the wall oi the container and being formed with an enlarged opening providing a socket for the reception of a tool for bending the fixture about said secured extremity as an axis to a position with said first leg disposed perpendicular to the wall of the container and with the remaining leg disposed above the level of the top of the container.

2. In a container having an open top anda cover therefor, a scraper fixture disposed within the container and formed of a sheet metal strip bent into two angularly disposed legs, one of said legs' having a tree extremity secured to a portion of the container structure adjacent the open top thereof, said secured leg being disposed in substantial parallelism to the wall of the container and being formed with an enlarged opening providing a socket for the reception or a tool for bending the fixture about said secured extremity as an axis to a position with said first leg disposed perpendicular to the wall of the container" and with the remaining leg disposed above the level oi. the top of the container, said remaining leg having a curved'notch in its extremity providing a scraping suriace for the bottom 0! a spoon.

DONALD REID. 

